Foscadh Explained

Foscadh
Director:Seán Breathnach
Editing:Conall de Cléir
Producer:Paddy Hayes
Screenplay:Seán Breathnach
Story:Dónal Ryan
Music:Sindri Már Sigfússon
Cinematography:Colm Hogan
Production Companies:TUA Films
(Magamedia Teo)
Runtime:93 minutes
Country:Ireland
Language:Irish

Foscadh (in Irish ˈfˠasˠkə/; "Shelter"; also written in Gaelic script as Foscaḋ)[1] is a 2021 film, based on characters in the novel The Thing about December by Donal Ryan. The film premiered at the 2021 Galway Film Fleadh.[2] [3] It was selected as the Irish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[4]

Plot

John Cunliffe (Dónall Ó hÉalaí) is a 28-year-old recluse, coddled by his parents, living on a farm in Connemara, Ireland. When his parents pass away, John discovers that he has inherited land in the way of a proposed lucrative windfarm development. Having never had to fend for himself, he has to grow up fast: navigating friendships, romance and matters of trust for the first time. Ó hÉalaí described his character as having been "sheltered all his life by his parents […] when he loses them, his story is him becoming an adult, and all that entails."

Production

Foscadh was filmed in 2019 and 2020, in Corr na Móna, County Galway having received a grant of from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Reception

Foscadh received its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2021, where it won the Award for Best First Film.[5] Director, Seán Breathnach was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Director at the 2021 Newport Beach Film Festival and was nominated for a Zebbie award by the Writer's Guild of Ireland for his script in the feature film category. The film was also awarded the top prize, The Golden Tree, for best film at the 4th Kimolos International Film Festival. The Irish Times in a four star review described the film as a "powerful" piece that "poignantly chronicles rural male loneliness." Declan Burke of The Irish Examiner praises Seán Breathnach for crafting "...an emotionally charged psychologically complex film." Variety described the film as a "forensic and unflinching examination" of loneliness and longing that is "very well performed and visually striking." The Phoenix in its review of the film, described it as "among the very best debut feature films to be made in Ireland."https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/shelter-review-foscadh-1235104638/.[6] [7] [8] [9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foscadh (2021): The movie compared to the book. Movies vs Books.
  2. Web site: Foscadh (Shelter). Galway Film Fleadh. 31 December 2021.
  3. Web site: 3 TG4 premieres at Galway Film Fleadh 2021 including the latest Cine4. TG4. 12 July 2021. 31 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Irish-language drama makes its bid for Oscars glory . RTE . 22 September 2021 . 22 September 2021.
  5. News: Galway Film Fleadh 2021: Stacey Gregg's thriller Here Before wins best Irish film. The Irish Times. Donald. Clarke. 26 July 2021. 31 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Foscadh: Get ready for the new wave as Gaeilge . 2024-05-31 . The Irish Times . en.
  7. Web site: Kuipers . Richard . 2021-11-08 . ‘Shelter’ Review: A Bleak, Brooding Drama About Isolation and Loneliness . 2024-05-31 . Variety . en-US.
  8. Web site: Burke . Declan . 2022-03-11 . Film review: Foscadh is an emotionally charged and psychologically complex film . 2024-05-31 . Irish Examiner . en.
  9. Web site: FOSCADH - DIRECTED BY SEÁN BREATHNACH . 2024-05-31 . The Phoenix Magazine . en-GB.